Underwater systems having co-located data center and water desalination subunits

ABSTRACT

Underwater systems for data center cooling and water desalination are provided. Aspects of the systems include a data center subunit and a desalination subunit that are co-located with each other at an underwater location, where the desalination subunit is configured to receive warm water output from the data center. Aspects of the invention also include methods for cooling a data center and desalinating water using underwater systems as described herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of United States application Ser. No.14/852,280 filed Sep. 11, 2015, now United States Pat. No. 10,221,083,which application, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e), claims priority tothe filing date of the United States Provisional patent application Ser.No. 62/051,223 filed Sep. 16, 2014; the disclosure of which applicationsare herein incorporated by reference.

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, internet traffic in the United States has risensignificantly. It is estimated that in the United States, internettraffic increased from 40,000-70,000 terabytes/month in 2001 to3,400,000-4,100,000 terabytes/month in 2011. To support the steep growthin internet traffic, a large amount of computer-related infrastructurehas been developed and implemented. One type of infrastructure that hasbeen increasingly utilized is data centers.

Data centers are facilities that house computer systems and associatedcomponents for operation therein. Data centers may include computers,data storage devices, servers, telecommunications systems or otherrelated equipment and may be used to manage, store, process and/orexchange digital information and data. The operation of electricalcomponents within data centers for these functions produces a largeamount of heat. As such, many data centers have intricate coolingsystems designed to cool electrical components so that the componentscan function effectively.

Operation of electrical components and cooling systems within datacenters often requires a large amount of energy. Data center power usecan range from several kW to several tens of MW. Data centers may use,for example, as much electricity as a small town to operate. The powerdensity of a data center may also be more than one-hundred times that ofa typical office building.

Due to the high power usage of data centers, data centers are also oftenresponsible for high carbon emissions. For example, it is estimated thatin 2007 data centers were responsible for 1.5% of the total electricityconsumption in the United States. Likewise, data centers were estimatedto be responsible for 0.5% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UnitedStates in the same year. The amount of greenhouse gas emissions fromdata centers is also expected to rise in the future. For example, it isprojected that greenhouse gas emission from data centers will doublefrom 2007 levels by 2020.

Also in recent years, scarcity of fresh water has become an increasingproblem facing humanity. More than 97% of water on earth is seawater;three fourths of the remaining water is locked in glacier ice; and lessthan 1% is in aquifers, lakes and rivers that can be used foragriculture, industrial, sanitary and human consumption. As water inaquifers, lakes and rivers is a renewable resource, this small fractionof the Earth's water is continually reused. It is the rate of this reusethat has stressed conventional water resources. In the last century,these water sources became stressed as growing population and pollutionlimited the availability of easy-to-access freshwater.

SUMMARY

Underwater systems for data center cooling and water desalination areprovided. Aspects of the systems include a data center subunit and adesalination subunit that are co-located with each other at anunderwater location, where the desalination subunit is configured toreceive warm water output from the data center. Aspects of the inventionalso include methods for cooling a data center and desalinating waterusing underwater systems as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an underwater system including co-located datacenter and water desalination subunits, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an underwater system including co-located datacenter and water desalination subunits, wherein the system isoperatively connected to a power producing subunit located at a watersurface location, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Underwater systems for data center cooling and water desalination areprovided. Aspects of the systems include a data center subunit and adesalination subunit that are co-located with each other at anunderwater location, where the desalination subunit is configured toreceive warm water output from the data center. Aspects of the inventionalso include methods for cooling a data center and desalinating waterusing underwater systems as described herein.

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it is to beunderstood that this invention is not limited to particular embodimentsdescribed, as such may, of course, vary. It is also to be understoodthat the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describingparticular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, sincethe scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appendedclaims.

Where a range of values is provided, it is understood that eachintervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unlessthe context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lowerlimits of that range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller rangebetween any stated value or intervening value in a stated range and anyother stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassedwithin the invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller rangesmay independently be included or excluded in the range, and each rangewhere either, neither or both limits are included in the smaller rangesis also encompassed within the invention, subject to any specificallyexcluded limit in the stated range. Where the stated range includes oneor both of the limits, ranges excluding either or both of those includedlimits are also included in the invention.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used inthe practice or testing of the present invention, some potential andexemplary methods and materials may now be described. Any and allpublications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference todisclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection withwhich the publications are cited. It is understood that the presentdisclosure supersedes any disclosure of an incorporated publication tothe extent there is a contradiction.

It must be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, thesingular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “anintake” includes a plurality of such intakes and reference to “thematerial” includes reference to one or more materials and equivalentsthereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

It is also noted that definitions provided in one section of thisapplication (e.g., the “Systems” section) may also apply to embodimentsdescribed in another section of the application (e.g., the “Methods”section) even if a term is described as applying to an embodiment of aparticular section.

It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude anyelement which may be optional. As such, this statement is intended toserve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as“solely”, “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claimelements, or the use of a “negative” limitation.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for theirdisclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothingherein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention isnot entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention.Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from theactual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed.To the extent such publications may set out definitions of a term thatconflict with the explicit or implicit definition of the presentdisclosure, the definition of the present disclosure controls.

As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading thisdisclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustratedherein has discrete components and features which may be readilyseparated from or combined with the features of any of the other severalembodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the presentinvention. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of eventsrecited or in any other order which is logically possible.

Systems

As summarized above, underwater systems that include a co-located datacenter and water desalination subunits are provided. The systems includea data center subunit having a water cooling subsystem configured toreceive and output water (e.g., cool and warm water, respectively) and adesalination subunit co-located with the data center and configured toreceive and desalinate the output water (e.g., warm water), where thetwo subunits are co-located at an underwater location. The terms“co-locate”, “co-located” and “co-locating”, as used herein refer toplacing two or more things in proximity to each other (i.e., within acertain distance of each other). In some aspects of the disclosedsystems, co-located sub-units may be located such that they share one ormore common aspects (e.g., facilities or components such as specificsystems or machinery). In some aspects, co-located sub units may belocated, for example, within 0.1 m to 100 m, such as 0.1 to 50 m,including 0.1 to 10 m, e.g., 0.1 to 1 m, of one another. In someaspects, co-located sub units are integrated with each other, such thatthere is not distinct distance separate one subunit from the other. Insome embodiments, co-located units are two or more facilities located inimmediately adjacent or abutting areas of an underwater location. Insome embodiments, co-located units are two or more facilities located inthe same area of an underwater location. In some versions of thedisclosed systems, co-located subunits are located such that they are influid communication (i.e., the subunits are configured such that atleast one fluid may move and/or flow between the subunits). In somevariations of the disclosed systems, co-located units are located suchthat they share one or more of the components described herein (e.g., awater cooling subsystem). In some embodiments of the disclosed systems,co-located subunits may be located such that they are electricallyconnected (i.e., connected by at least one conductive material) and/orshare at least one electrical component. In some instances, co-locatedsubunits are located such that their location allows them to be moreenergy-efficient (i.e., use less energy for the same amount ofproductivity) than the subunits would be if they were located in adifferent position (e.g., a greater distance away from each other). Invarious embodiments, co-located subunits are located such that theirlocation allows them to produce fewer carbon emissions (e.g., carbondioxide emissions) or have a smaller carbon footprint than the subunitswould if they were located in a different position (e.g., a greaterdistance away from each other). In some versions, co-located subunitsare located such that their location allows them to minimize potentialpollutants emitted therefrom. In some embodiments of the disclosedsystems, co-located units are located such that they are operablyconnected. By “operably connected”, as used herein, is meant connectedin a specific way (e.g., in a manner allowing water to move and/orelectric power to be transmitted) that allows the disclosed system andits various components to operate effectively in the manner describedherein. For example, a power producing subunit operably connected to adata center allows electricity to flow (i.e., be transmitted along atleast one conductive material) between the power producing subunit andthe data center such that the energy required to operate the data centerwould be at least partially obtained from the power plant.

As summarized above, the co-located data center and water desalinationsubunits of systems described herein are co-located at an underwaterlocation. By underwater location is meant a location in a body of waterthat is underneath the surface of the body of water. In some aspects,the systems are positioned below and/or within a particular zone (e.g.,euphotic and/or disphotic, and/or aphotic zone and/or benthic zone) in abody of water. In some instances, the systems are positioned below thephotic zone in a body of water. In some instances, the underwaterlocation is positioned at a depth of 15 m or more in a body of water,such as 20 m or more; 25 m or more; 30 m or more; 35 m or more; 40 m ormore; 45 m or more; 50 m or more; 60 m or more; 70 m or more; 80 m ormore; 90 m or more; 100 m or more; 200 m or more; 300 m or more in awater source, where an upper limit in some instances may be 5000 m orless, such as 2500 m or less, e.g., 1000 m or less. The systemsdescribed herein may be positioned at an underwater location of anyconvenient body of water. Examples of bodies of water include lakes,seas, oceans, etc. In some instances, the body of water is a body ofsaline water, where saline bodies of water include, but are not limitedto oceans, e.g., the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the IndianOcean, the Antarctic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean, and seas, e.g., theMediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Persian Gulf,the Red Sea, the Caspian Sea, etc.

The system and subunits thereof may be present in the same housing ordisparate housings operatively connected to each other, e.g., asdescribed below. As desired, the system may be fixed in a fixed ornon-fixed underwater location, relative to a solid mass, e.g., floor,wall, underwater mountain, etc., of the body of water in which it islocated. When fixed, the system may be present the solid mass ortethered thereto, as desired.

Various aspects of the embodiments of the systems will now be describedin greater detail below.

Data Center

Embodiments of the disclosed systems include one or more data centerssubunits. The term “data center” refers to a facility configured and/orused for physically housing (i.e., containing within it) one or morecomputer systems and/or associated components. In some embodiments, datacenters include the components therein and manage, store, process and/orexchange digital information and data.

Data centers may include computers, data storage devices, servers (e.g.,web servers, database servers and/or application servers), switches,routers, vaults, load balancers, racks, wire cages or closets and/orrelated equipment. Data centers may include redundant datacommunications connections, backup or redundant power supplies, securitydevices, and/or fire suppression systems. In some instances, datacenters include data storage systems and/or telecommunications systems.Some versions of data centers are used for providing applicationservices or management for various types of data processing (e.g.,intranet, web hosting internet). In some embodiments, data centers areused, for example, to operate and manage one or more carriers'telecommunication network, provide data center applications directly toone or more carriers' customers and/or provide hosted applications forone or more third parties to provide services to customers. Embodimentsof data centers include data centers that are within one or morebuildings. In some aspects, data centers occupy one or more rooms of abuilding, one or more floors of a building or an entire building.

In some instances, data centers are electrically powered. For example,some embodiments of data centers consume electricity to operate. Powerdraw for data centers may range from a few kW (e.g., one, two, three,four or five kW) to several tens of MW (e.g., one, two, three, four,five, six, seven, eight or nine tens of MW) for larger facilities. Insome aspects of data centers, the data centers have power densities ofmore than one-hundred times that of an average office building. In someembodiments of data centers, electricity costs are the primary operatingexpense of the data center and may account for 10% or more of a datacenter's total cost of ownership.

Embodiments of data centers are operably connected to at least one powersource (e.g., one or more power producing subunits, as described herein,or other power sources). Some versions of data centers include a powersource (e.g., a source from which electrical power may be obtained).Power sources, in some embodiments, generate or obtain power fromrenewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources include, for example,one or more systems or devices configured to convert one or more formsof energy (e.g., solar, wind, wave, biofuel, biomass, tidal and/orgeothermal energy) to another form (e.g., electric power). For example,a power source may be one or more solar panels, wind turbines, wavepower generators, etc.

In some embodiments, data centers use an amount of energy for eachfunction performed by the data center or components thereof. Forexample, data centers or systems including data centers may use aspecific amount of energy per amount of data center cooling. In someaspects, data centers or systems including data centers have a degree ofenergy efficiency that may be quantified as the power usageeffectiveness (PUE) of the data center or system including a data center(e.g., a PUE of 1.0; 1.1; 1.2; 1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6; 1.7; 1.8; 1.9; or2.0). The PUE is the ratio of the total power entering a system (e.g., adata center and optionally, a desalination plant and/or a data centerpower source, such as a power plant) to the power used by the computersystems and/or associated components (e.g., information technologyequipment) within the system (e.g., the data center). In variousaspects, a PUE is the inverse of the data center infrastructureefficiency (DCIE). In some versions, systems (e.g., data centers) have aPUE of 2.0 or less, such as 1.9 or less, e.g., 1.8, 1.7, 1.6., 1.5, 1.4,1.3, 1.2 or 1.1 or less (e.g., a PUE ranging from 1.0 to 2.0). In someembodiments, a system (e.g., a data center) has a PUE ranging from 1.0to 1.3. In some instances, a system, (e.g., a data center) has a PUE ofor about 1.0, where a PUE of or about 1.0 is a PUE near, and greaterthan, 1.0 (e.g., 1.01 or 1.02 or 1.03 or 1.04 or 1.05 or 1.06 or 1.07 or1.08 or 1.09 or 1.1 or 1.15 or 1.2 or 1.25 or 1.3 and/or within therange 1.01 to 1.30). In determining the PUE of data centers of theinvention, one may factor in a component that represents the reducedenergy used by the desalination plant in desalinating the warm wateroutput of the data center cooling subsystem. Any convenient protocol forfactoring in this component into the PUE determination may be employed.For example, the reduction in energy used by the desalination plantresulting from co-location of the desalination plant with the datacenter (and particularly by using the warm output water from the datacenter) may be added to the amount of energy input into the data centerwhich is used by the computer systems and/or associated components(e.g., information technology equipment). One particular formula thatmay be employed is:PUE=Total Facility Power/IT Equipment Power

Where total facility power includes cooling and lighting, as well asanything that is not considered a computing device, whereas IT equipmentis computing devices A PUE of 1.0 is ideal meaning that all the power isgoing to computing devices. A PUE of less than 2.0 is desirable, such asless than 1.5, and including less than 1.1, e.g., below 1.01. Byperforming the cooling with cool sea water, then only the cost ofpumping the water adds to total facility power.

Where desired, data centers may include environmental control systems(e.g., one or more air conditioning units) for controlling at least aportion of the environment with a data center, e.g., to counter the heatproduced by the data center components. In some aspects, environmentalcontrol systems include the water cooling subsystems described herein.In some aspects, environmental control systems include temperaturecontrol systems that are configured to heat and/or cool at least aportion of the data centers. In some instances, environmental controlsystems include humidity control systems that are configured to controlthe amount of humidity in at least a portion of the data centers. Insome aspects, environmental control systems include pressure controlsystems that are configured to control the pressure level in at least aportion of the data centers. Some versions of environmental controlsystems are configured to maintain at least a portion of a data centerand/or computer related equipment therein at a temperature between 16°C. and 24° C. (e.g., 17° C.; 18° C.; 19° C.; 20° C.; 21° C.; 22° C. or23° C.) and/or within a humidity range of 40%-55% and/or with a maximumdew point of 15° C.

In various instances, and as noted above, data centers include one ormore water cooling subsystems. The phrases “water cooling subsystem” and“water cooling subsystems”, as used herein, refer to an interconnectedstructure located at least partially within a data center that isconfigured to cool at least one component (e.g., a server) or portion(e.g., a room) of the data center. Where desired, the interconnectedstructure of a water cooling subsystem includes one or more components(e.g., pipes and/or containers) configured to carry water from onelocation (e.g., the location of the intake) to another location. In someembodiments, water cooling subsystems include a warm water dischargeand/or output. In some embodiments, water cooling subsystems arewater-tight except for an intake for receiving water into the subsystemsand warm water discharge and/or output for discharging water out of thesubsystems. The water cooling subsystem, in some instances, may beconfigured to receive water (e.g., cool water) from an ocean and/or seaand/or river and/or lake and/or groundwater source and/or other watersource.

The term “water”, as used herein, refers to the chemical compound havingthe chemical formula H₂O. Water may also be salt water (e.g., seawater)and as such may include one or more components (e.g., salts) dissolvedtherein. Salt water (e.g., seawater) may have a salinity of about 3.5%(35 g/L, or 599 mM) (e.g., a salinity of 3.4% to 3.6% or 3.1% to 3.8%).Water may also be in the form of a liquid and/or gas. Water, asdescribed in the application, may also have a variety of differenttemperatures. By “cool” water, as used herein, is meant water that has alower temperature than “warm” water, as described herein. In someaspects the temperature of cool water is within the range 1° C. to 35°C. For example, in some instances the temperature of cool water iswithin one of the following ranges: 1° C. to 10° C.; 11° C. to 20° C.;21° C. to 30° C.; 31° C. to 35° C.; 12° C. to 19° C.; 13° C. to 18° C.;14° C. to 17° C.; 15° C. to 16° C.; 1° C. to 20° C.; 2° C. to 19° C.; 3°C. to 18° C.; 4° C. to 17° C.; 5° C. to 16° C.; 6° C. to 15° C.; 7° C.to 14° C.; 7° C. to 13° C.; 8° C. to 12° C.; or 9° C. to 11° C. In someaspects, the temperature difference between cool water and warm watermay range from 1° C. to 99° C. For example, the temperature differencebetween cool water and warm water may be 1° C.; 2° C.; 3° C.; 4° C.; 5°C.; 6° C.; 7° C.; 8° C.; 9° C.; 10° C.; 11° C.; 12° C.; 13° C.; 14° C.;15° C.; 16° C.; 17° C.; 18° C.; 19° C.; 20° C.; 21° C.; 22° C.; 23° C.;24° C.; 25° C.; 26° C.; 27° C.; 28° C.; 29° C.; 30° C.; 31° C.; 32° C.;33° C.; 34° C.; 35° C.; 36° C.; 37° C.; 38° C.; 39° C.; 40° C.; 41° C.;42° C.; 43° C.; 44° C.; 45° C.; 46° C.; 47° C.; 48° C.; 49° C.; 50° C.;51° C.; 52° C.; 53° C.; 54° C.; 55° C.; 56° C.; 57° C.; 58° C.; 59° C.;60° C.; 61° C.; 62° C.; 63° C.; 64° C.; 65° C.; 66° C.; 67° C.; 68° C.;69° C.; 70° C.; 71° C.; 72° C.; 73° C.; 74° C.; 75° C.; 76° C.; 77° C.;78° C.; 79° C.; 80° C.; 81° C.; 82° C.; 83° C.; 84° C.; 85° C.; 86° C.;87° C.; 88° C.; 89° C.; 90° C.; 91° C.; 92° C.; 93° C.; 94° C.; 95° C.;96° C.; 97° C.; 98° C.; or 99° C. The temperature difference betweencool water and warm water may also be, for example, at least 1° C.; atleast 2° C.; at least 3° C.; at least 4° C.; at least 5° C.; at least10° C.; at least 15° C.; at least 20° C.; at least 25° C.; at least 30°C.; at least 35° C.; at least 40° C.; or at least 50° C., such as 1° C.or more; 2° C. or more; 3° C. or more; 4° C. or more; 5° C. or more; 10°C. or more; 15° C. or more; 20° C. or more; 25° C. or more; 30° C. ormore; 35° C. or more; 40° C. or more; or 50° C. or more, where an upperlimit to the above ranges is, in some instances, 100° C., such as 75° C.In some aspects, cool water may have a temperature within one of theabove listed ranges when the cool water enters and/or exits a componentof the systems described herein (e.g., the water intake). In someaspects, cool water may have the same temperature as the water sourcefrom which the cool water is taken. For example, cool water may have thesame temperature as that of the portion of ocean or sea surrounding(e.g., a location at or within a distance of 1 m and/or 10 m and/or 100m and/or 1000 m) that the system is located. In some aspects of thedisclosed systems, the cool water is received into the systems from theunderwater location of the ocean or sea where the system is located. Insome instances, the temperature of cool water increases and/or decreasesas the water progresses through the disclosed water cooling subsystem.

By “warm” water, as used herein, is meant water that has a highertemperature than “cool” water, as described herein. In some aspects thetemperature of warm water is within the range 36° C. to 100° C. Forexample, in some instances the temperature of warm water is within oneof the following ranges: 36° C. to 40° C.; 41° C. to 50° C.; 51° C. to60° C.; 61° C. to 70° C.; 71° C. to 80° C.; 81° C. to 90° C.; 91° C. to99° C.; 40° C. to 45° C.; 46° C. to 50° C.; 51° C. to 55° C.; 56° C. to60° C.; 61° C. to 65° C.; 66° C. to 70° C.; 36° C. to 60° C.; 37° C. to59° C.; 38° C. to 58° C.; 39° C. to 57° C.; 40° C. to 56° C.; 41° C. to55° C.; 42° C. to 54° C.; 43° C. to 53° C.; 44° C. to 52° C.; 45° C. to51° C.; 46° C. to 50° C.; or 47° C. to 49° C. As noted above, in someinstances, the temperature difference between cool water and warm watermay range from 1° C. to 99° C. For example, the temperature differencebetween cool water and warm water may be, at least 1° C.; at least 2°C.; at least 3° C.; at least 4° C.; at least 5° C.; at least 10° C.; atleast 15° C.; at least 20° C.; at least 25° C.; at least 30° C.; atleast 35° C.; at least 40° C.; or at least 50° C. In some aspects, warmwater may have a temperature within one of the above listed ranges whenthe warm water enters and/or exits a component of the systems describedherein (e.g., the water discharge). In some aspects, warm water may havea higher temperature than the water source from which the cool water istaken. For example, warm water may have a higher temperature than thatof the portion of ocean or sea surrounding (e.g., a location at orwithin a distance of 1 m and/or 10 m and/or 100 m and/or 1000 m) one ormore elements of the system disclosed herein (e.g., a water intakeand/or a water discharge). In some embodiments, the temperature of warmwater increases and/or decreases as the water progresses through thedisclosed systems.

In some aspects, the water cooling subsystem may be configured to carrycool water to at least one location in a data center (e.g., a locationwhere heat is produced by the data center) where the cool water isheated and thereby converted to warm water. Cool water may be heated andconverted to warm water within a heat exchange element of a watercooling subsystem, which is described in further detail below. The watercooling subsystem may also, in some instances, be configured to carrywarm water away from one location in a data center (e.g., the locationof a heat exchange element) to another location (e.g., a locationoutside a portion of the data center which contains one or more computersystems and/or associated components). Where desired, the water coolingsubsystem is configured to carry heat energy away from one or morecomputer systems and/or associated components that generate heat energyby allowing generated heat energy to be transferred to water (e.g. coolwater) within the water cooling subsystem (e.g., within a heat exchangeelement of the water cooling subsystem) and thereafter, transferring theheated water (e.g., warm water) away from the position within the datacenter where it was heated. By transferring water within a data centerand thereby cooling one or more computer systems and/or associatedcomponents within the data center, the water cooling subsystem optimizesthe operation of the systems and/or components by providing anenvironment in which the systems and/or components may effectivelyoperate.

In some instances, water cooling subsystems include a heat exchangeelement. In some embodiments, heat exchange elements are configured tocool one or more locations and/or components within a data center. Forexample, heat exchange elements may be configured to allow an exchangeof heat produced by a data center at a first location to a medium (e.g.,air and/or water) and thereafter transfer the heated medium to a secondlocation so that the first location of the data center and/or componentsat the first location are cooled. In some aspects, heat exchangeelements are configured such that a medium (e.g., cool water) may bechanneled into the heat exchange element (e.g., from a first portion ofthe water cooling subsystem) and/or a medium (e.g., warm water) may bechanneled out of the heat exchange element (e.g., to a second portion ofthe water cooling subsystem).

In some aspects, a heat exchange element is an air conditioning system(e.g., one or more air conditioning units). In some instances, heatexchange elements are configured to cool air around (e.g., in the sameroom of a data center as data center components) components (e.g.,electrical components) of the data center which produce heat. In someinstances, heat exchange elements are configured to allow the transferof heat from air (e.g., air heated by data center components) around(e.g., in the same room of a data center as data center components)components (e.g., electrical components) of the data center whichproduce heat to cool water. Such an exchange will result in the airbeing cooled and the water being warmed (e.g., to warm water).Accordingly, in some aspects, cool water is heated to warm water withinthe heat exchange element. In some instances, heat exchange elements areconfigured to remove air that has been heated by components of a datacenter from the area of the data center (e.g., room) in which thecomponents are located.

In some embodiments, heat exchange elements are one or more channels(e.g., channels having a large interior and/or exterior surface area)physically integrated with components of a data center (e.g., electroniccomponents which produce heat). Where desired, heat exchange elementsare configured such that water may flow through them and therebytransfer heat away from the data center components. In some versions,the heat exchange element is operably connected to the remainder of thewater cooling subsystem at one or more locations (e.g., one, two, three,four or five locations). In some aspects, the heat exchange element iscomposed of the same materials as the remainder of the water coolingsubsystem or different materials. Examples of heat exchange elementsthat may be utilized either wholly or partially in connection with thedisclosed systems are provided by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,374,627; 8,0094,30;7,525,207; 7,347,058; 8,004,832; 7,810,341; 7,808,780; 6,574,104;6,859,366; 8,157,626; 7,881,057; 6,980,433; 6,945,058; 6,854,284;6,834,512; 6,775,997; 6,772,604; 8,113,010; 8,276,397; and 8453,471 aswell as those described in U.S. Published Patent Application Nos.20120138259; 20110225997; 20110059687; 20100107658; and 20100146996; thedisclosures of each which are incorporated by reference herein.

As noted above, in some embodiments, water cooling subsystems include awarm water discharge and/or warm water output. In various instances,warm water discharges are operably connected (e.g., attached in awater-tight manner) to desalination subunits of the systems. In someversions, warm water discharges are part of the same structure as thecoupling components described herein. Where desired, warm waterdischarges expel warm water out of a water cooling subsystem and/or intoa water source or body of water. In some embodiments, warm waterdischarges include one or more openings through which warm water maymove (e.g., flow). In some embodiments, a warm water discharge is a pipeand may be made of the same and/or different materials and/or types ofmaterials as the water intakes described herein. In some versions, awarm water discharge is positioned inside or outside a portion of thedata center which contains one or more computer systems and/orassociated components.

The water cooling subsystem, in some embodiments, includes a waterintake. In some aspects, the water intake includes one or more openings(e.g., holes, gaps and/or slits) in the water cooling system configuredto receive water (e.g., cool water) into the water cooling subsystem.For example, the water intake may be one or more pipes having one ormore (i.e., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or tenor more) openings (e.g., an open end) positioned within a body of watersuch that water may flow into the one or more pipes. In someembodiments, a water intake or an opening therein is shaped as a circle,rectangle, square, slit, polygon, quadrilateral, oval, semi-circle, orother shape. In some instances, a water intake or an opening therein mayhave a single defined radius of symmetry. In some versions, a waterintake or an opening therein may radii of curvature lying within asingle plane (e.g., a vertical plane or a horizontal plane). In someembodiments, water intakes (e.g., one or more openings in water intakes)are configured to intake or otherwise have an amount of water (e.g.,seawater) move through them in a set time period (e.g., a minute or houror day). For example, water intakes may be configured to intake up to:5,000 L/day; 10,000 L/day; 15,000 L/day; 20,000 L/day; 25,000 L/day;30,000 L/day; 35,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day; 45,000 L/day; 50,000 L/day;55,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day; 65,000 L/day; 70,000 L/day; 75,000 L/day;80,000 L/day; 85,000 L/day; 90,000 L/day; 95,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day;150,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day; 250,000 L/day; 300,000 L/day; 350,000L/day; 400,000 L/day; 450,000 L/day; 500,000 L/day; 550,000 L/day;600,000 L/day; 650,000 L/day; 700,000 L/day; 750,000 L/day; 800,000L/day; 850,000 L/day; 900,000 L/day; 950,000 L/day; 1 million L/day; 5million L/day; 10 million L/day; 20 million L/day; 30 million L/day; 40million L/day; 50 million L/day; 60 million L/day; 70 million L/day; 80million L/day; 90 million L/day; 100 million L/day; 110 million L/day;120 million L/day; 130 million L/day; 140 million L/day; 150 millionL/day; 160 million L/day; 170 million L/day; 180 million L/day; 190million L/day; 200 million L/day; 220 million L/day; 240 million L/day;260 million L/day; 280 million L/day; 300 million L/day; 400 millionL/day; 500 million L/day; or 1 billion L/day. Water intakes may also beconfigured to intake more than 1 billion L/day. Water intakes, in someembodiments, may be configured to intake an amount of water in any ofthe ranges: 5,000 L/day to 1 billion L/day; 5,000 L/day to 1 millionL/day; 5,000 L/day to 100 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to 20,000 L/day;20,000 L/day to 40,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day to 60,000 L/day; 60,000 L/dayto 80,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day to 100,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 120,000L/day; 120,000 L/day to 140,000 L/day; 140,000 L/day to 160,000 L/day;160,000 L/day to 180,000 L/day; 180,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000L/day to 250,000 L/day; 250,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 3000,000 L/dayto 350,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to300,000 L/day; 300,000 L/day to 400,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day to 500,000L/day; 500,000 L/day to 600,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day to 700,000 L/day;700,000 L/day to 800,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day to 900,000 L/day; 900,000L/day to 1 million L/day; 1 million L/day to 20 million L/day; 20million L/day to 40 million L/day; 40 million L/day to 60 million L/day;60 million L/day to 80 million L/day; or 80 million L/day to 100 millionL/day. In some aspects, intakes are configured such that the amount ofwater moving (e.g., flowing) through an intake may be variable within atime period (e.g., one minute, one hour, one day, one month, one year).In some aspects, the water intake or a portion thereof is positionedoutside the portion of the data center containing the one or morecomputer systems and/or associated components. For example, in somevariations, the water intake is positioned outside the housing of theone or more computer systems and/or associated components. Wheredesired, the intake is in fluid communication with at least one portionof the water cooling subsystem located inside the portion of the datacenter containing the one or more computer systems and/or associatedcomponents wherein cool water is heated (e.g., heated to warm water).The water intake is, in some instances, fluidically coupled to theunderwater location where the system is located, e.g., to obtain waterfrom the underwater location where the system is located.

Embodiments of water cooling subsystems, and in some versions waterintakes, include one or more filters configured for purifying water. Insome instances, at least one filter is located at one or more openingsin the intake and/or at the end of the intake furthest from the portionof the data center housing the computer systems and/or relatedequipment. Where desired, a filter is positioned within the portion ofthe data center housing the computer systems and/or related equipment.

Water cooling subsystems and/or water intakes thereof may, in variousembodiments, be composed of one or more materials or one or more typesof materials. Examples of materials that the water cooling subsystems ofthe disclosed systems may be composed of include polymers, ceramics,metals, glasses and/or a combination thereof. In some instances, thewater cooling subsystems are not composed of metal or material that issubject to corrosion (e.g., corrosion by rust). In some embodiments,water cooling subsystems are composed of plumbing materials. Forexample, water cooling subsystems may be composed of polyvinyl chloride(PVC) pipes and/or joints and one or more adhesives for fastening thepipes in a water-tight manner. Where appropriate, one or more materialsof the water cooling subsystems may be rigid. In some aspects, one ormore materials of the water cooling subsystems may be flexible (e.g.,one or more rubber tubes or hoses). However, these examples of materialsare not limiting and the materials of the water cooling subsystems maybe any material, or combination of materials, having the structural andchemical properties necessary to function in the disclosed systems asdescribed herein.

The water cooling subsystem, in various instances, includes a pump. Insome embodiments, a pump is a means for causing water to move throughwater cooling subsystems and/or other components (e.g., water intakes;water discharges and/or desalination plants), as described herein. Insome variations, a pump causes water to move unidirectionally orbidirectionally through water cooling subsystems and/or other components(e.g., water intakes; water discharges and/or desalination plants), asdescribed herein. In some instances, a pump is electrically poweredand/or fossil fuel powered and/or powered by another means. In someaspects, a pump is operably connected to a power source (i.e., the powersource of the data center), as described herein. In some aspects, a pumpmay be operably connected to a power plant. In particular versions,tides, and/or a pump powered by tides, cause water to move through thewater cooling subsystems and/or other components (i.e., desalinationplants) described herein. In some embodiments, one or more pumps arelocated within data centers and/or desalination subunits, as describedherein. In some embodiments, one or more pumps are located outside datacenters and/or desalination subunits, as described herein.

In particular aspects, water cooling subsystems include one or morevalves within the subsystems for controlling the movement of waterthrough the system. In some embodiments, the valves are controllable(e.g., configured to be opened and/or closed in reaction to a designatedsignal or action). Where desired, each valve is individuallycontrollable (e.g., a valve may be opened and or closed while othervalves are not). In some embodiments, the one or more valves includeelectrical components and may be configured to receive an electronicsignal from a controller operably connected thereto.

The data center is present in a housing suitable to maintain theoperability of the data center at the underwater location. As such, thehousing may be a housing configured to protect electrical components ofthe data center from contact with the water, e.g., by being a watertight housing and/or a housing in which any water ingress is readilycountered by water egress. The housing may be fabricated using anyconvenient material(s) according to any convenient design, where theinterior of the housing may vary, ranging in some instances from 1 to10,000 m³, such as 5 to 5,000 m³.

Water Desalination Subunit

As reviewed above, the disclosed systems include a desalination subunit.As used herein, the term “desalination subunit” refers to a deviceconfigured and/or used for desalinating water. As such, desalinationsubunits house components for desalinating water. In some embodiments ofthe disclosed systems, desalination is removing an amount of salt and/orother minerals or components from saline water so that the water is fitfor consumption by a living organism (i.e., a living organism mayconsume the water and thereby maintain a healthy hydration level and/ora living organism may consume the water without the water having adetrimental effect on the organism's health). In some embodiments of thedisclosed systems, desalination makes water potable (i.e., fit to drink;drinkable). In some embodiments the living organism is a “mammal” or“mammalian”, where these terms are used broadly to describe organismswhich are within the class mammalia, including the orders carnivore(e.g., dogs and cats), rodentia (e.g., mice, guinea pigs, and rats), andprimates (e.g., humans, chimpanzees, and monkeys). In some embodiments,the living organism is a human. The term “human” may include humansubjects of both genders and at any stage of development (e.g., fetal,neonates, infant, juvenile, adolescent, adult), where in someembodiments the human subject is a juvenile, adolescent or adult. Insome embodiments of the disclosed systems, desalination is removing anamount of salt and/or other minerals or components from saline water sothat the water is fit for a specific purpose (e.g., irrigation).

In some instances, the desalination subunits house components operate byexposure of one or more membranes, such as nanofiltration (NF) orreverse osmosis (RO) membranes, to the hydrostatic pressure of a naturalor induced water column, for example, high-pressure water in the depthsof a body of water (e.g., ocean or sea), such as the underwater locationat which the subunits are co-located. The desalination subunits mayutilize membrane modules of various configurations. In some instances,the membrane module employs a membrane system wherein two parallelmembrane sheets are held apart by permeate spacers, and wherein thevolume between the membrane sheets is enclosed. Permeate water passesthrough the membranes and into the enclosed volume, where it iscollected. In some embodiments, desalination subjects of the disclosedsystems are reverse osmosis desalination subunits. In some aspects,reverse osmosis desalination subunits use pressure and/or one or moresemipermeable membranes to desalinate water. In some versions of reverseosmosis desalination subunits, water is passed through one or moresemipermeable membranes in order to remove salt and/or minerals and/orother impurities therefrom. In some instances, the efficiency of adesalination process of a reverse osmosis desalination plant is higherif the temperature of the water input (e.g., saltwater) into thedesalination process is higher. In various embodiments, a desalinationprocess of a reverse osmosis desalination plant uses less energy pervolume of water desalinated if the temperature of the water input (e.g.,saltwater) into the desalination process is higher.

By desalinating water, in some aspects, desalination subunits producedesalinated water and/or brine (e.g., both desalinated water and brine).As used herein, the term “brine” refers to a solution discharged from adesalination subunit. In some aspects, brine may be a solution (e.g., aconcentrate) including salt (e.g., sodium chloride) and water. In someversions, brine has a salt concentration in the range 3.5% to 26%. Insome embodiments, brine includes one or more of the impurities removedfrom water during desalination (e.g., minerals or other components). Insome instances, brine may include residues of chemicals used to treat(e.g., clean) a desalination plant.

Embodiments of desalination plants include at least one filterconfigured for purifying water. In some aspects, the at least one filterof the water intakes includes one or more semipermeable membranes.

In some instances, desalination subunits are configured such that anamount of water may move through the plants. In some embodiments,desalination subunits are configured such that an amount of water maymove through the plants by traveling through an interconnecteddesalination structure of operably connected pipes and/or containers.The interconnected desalination structure of operably connected pipesand/or containers, in some variations, is composed of the same and/ordifferent materials or types of materials as the water coolingsubsystems and/or water intakes described above. In particularembodiments, the interconnected desalination structure of operablyconnected pipes and/or containers of a desalination subunit is connectedto and/or includes a coupling component for receiving water from a watersource and/or a water discharge for discharging water from thedesalination subunit.

In some versions, desalination subunits include one or more valves forcontrolling the movement of water through the desalination plant (e.g.,through an interconnected desalination structure of operably connectedpipes and/or containers within a desalination plant). In someembodiments, the valves are controllable (e.g., configured to be openedand/or closed in reaction to a designated signal or action). In someaspects each valve is individually controllable (e.g., a valve may beopened and or closed while other valves are not). In some instances, theone or more valves include electrical components and may be configuredto receive an electronic signal from a controller operably connectedthereto.

In various aspects, a desalination subunit is configured such that watercan move (i.e., flow) into the plant from a water source (e.g., a watercooling subsystem). In some embodiments, the water source of a waterdesalination subunit is the water cooling subsystem of the data centerssubunit of the system (e.g., a co-located data center). As such, wheredesired, water desalination subunits may be configured to receive warmwater from water cooling subsystems or a portion thereof (e.g., a warmwater discharge or output). In some embodiments, water desalinationsubunits are configured such that warm water received into adesalination plant is used in one or more water desalination processestherein.

In some versions, desalination subunits include one or more couplingcomponents. Coupling components may be configured for connecting to andreceiving water from a water cooling subsystem. In some aspects, one ormore coupling components are positioned within a desalination subunitand/or within a data center and/or between a desalination subunit and adata center (e.g., at the interface of a desalination subunit and datacenter). In some instances, the one or one or more coupling componentsare a pipe or a series of pipes for providing fluid communicationbetween the desalination subunit and data center. In some embodiments,the one or more coupling components are operably connected (e.g.,attached in a water-tight manner) to a warm water discharge or output ofa data center. The one or more coupling components may be operablyconnected to a water intake (e.g., a cool water intake), as describedherein. As such, water (e.g., cool water) may be added to the warm waterpassing out of the water cooling subsystem of a data center before itenters a desalination subunit. The one or more coupling components maybe operably connected to a water discharge (e.g., a warm waterdischarge), as described herein. As such, all or a portion of the waterchanneled to flow through the coupling component may be channeled toflow into a water source and all or a portion of the water channeled toflow through the coupling component may be channeled to flow into thewater desalination plant. The one or more coupling components may alsobe operably connected to one or more other coupling components.

In some embodiments, coupling components are configured to have anamount of water (e.g., seawater) move (e.g., flow) through them per timeperiod (e.g., minute or hour or day). For example, coupling componentsmay be configured to have up to the following amounts of water move(e.g., flow) through them: 5,000 L/day; 10,000 L/day; 15,000 L/day;20,000 L/day; 25,000 L/day; 30,000 L/day; 35,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day;45,000 L/day; 50,000 L/day; 55,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day; 65,000 L/day;70,000 L/day; 75,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day; 85,000 L/day; 90,000 L/day;95,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day; 150,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day; 250,000L/day; 300,000 L/day; 350,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day; 450,000 L/day;500,000 L/day; 550,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day; 650,000 L/day; 700,000L/day; 750,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day; 850,000 L/day; 900,000 L/day;950,000 L/day; 1 million L/day; 5 million L/day; 10 million L/day; 20million L/day; 30 million L/day; 40 million L/day; 50 million L/day; 60million L/day; 70 million L/day; 80 million L/day; 90 million L/day; 100million L/day; 110 million L/day; 120 million L/day; 130 million L/day;140 million L/day; 150 million L/day; 160 million L/day; 170 millionL/day; 180 million L/day; 190 million L/day; 200 million L/day; 220million L/day; 240 million L/day; 260 million L/day; 280 million L/day;300 million L/day; 400 million L/day; 500 million L/day; or 1 billionL/day. Coupling components may also be configured to have more than 1billion L/day of water move (e.g., flow) through them. Couplingcomponents, in particular embodiments, may be configured to have anamount of water move through them wherein the amount is in any of theranges: 5,000 L/day to 1 billion L/day; 5,000 L/day to 1 million L/day;5,000 L/day to 100 million L/day; 5,000 L/day to 20,000 L/day; 20,000L/day to 40,000 L/day; 40,000 L/day to 60,000 L/day; 60,000 L/day to80,000 L/day; 80,000 L/day to 100,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 120,000L/day; 120,000 L/day to 140,000 L/day; 140,000 L/day to 160,000 L/day;160,000 L/day to 180,000 L/day; 180,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000L/day to 250,000 L/day; 250,000 L/day to 300,000 L/day; 3000,000 L/dayto 350,000 L/day; 100,000 L/day to 200,000 L/day; 200,000 L/day to300,000 L/day; 300,000 L/day to 400,000 L/day; 400,000 L/day to 500,000L/day; 500,000 L/day to 600,000 L/day; 600,000 L/day to 700,000 L/day;700,000 L/day to 800,000 L/day; 800,000 L/day to 900,000 L/day; 900,000L/day to 1 million L/day; 1 million L/day to 20 million L/day; 20million L/day to 40 million L/day; 40 million L/day to 60 million L/day;60 million L/day to 80 million L/day; or 80 million L/day to 100 millionL/day. In some aspects, the amount of water moving (e.g., flowing)through a coupling component is variable within a time period (e.g., oneminute, one hour, one day, one month, one year).

A desalination subunit, in some embodiments, is configured such thatbrine moves (i.e., flows) out of the desalination subunit through awater discharge. In some instances, desalination subunits are operablyconnected to (e.g., in fluid communication with) water discharges, asdescribed herein, where the discharge may conveniently discharge thebrine into the underwater location at which the system is located.

A desalination subunit, in various aspects, is configured such thatdesalinated (e.g., water having a low salt concentration) moves out ofthe desalination subunit through a water expulsion component, e.g., aproduct water conveyor configured to convey product water from thedesalination subunit to a water surface location. The water expulsioncomponent may be one or more pipes. The water expulsion component mayalso be configured to transport the desalinated water to a locationwhere the desalinated water may be used and/or stored, e.g., a landlocation. The water expulsion component may, in some aspects, also beconfigured to transport the desalinated water to a location from whichthe desalinated water can be further transported.

Desalination subunits, in some versions, include a pump. In someembodiments, a pump is a means for causing water to move throughdesalination subunit and/or other components (e.g., data centers; watercooling subsystems; water intakes; and/or water discharges), asdescribed herein. In particular instances, a pump causes water to moveunidirectionally or bidirectionally through desalination plants and/orother components, as described herein. In some embodiments, a pump iselectrically powered and/or gasoline powered and/or powered by anothermeans. In some aspects, a pump is operably connected to a power source(i.e., the power source of the data center), as described herein. Insome instances, a pump may be operably connected to a power plant. Inparticular embodiments, tides, and/or a pump powered by tides, causewater to move through the desalination plants and/or other components(i.e., data centers) described herein. In some embodiments, one or morepumps are located within data centers and/or desalination plants, asdescribed herein. In some versions, one or more pumps are locatedoutside data centers and/or desalination subunits, as described herein.

Where desired, desalination subunits include electrical components. Forexample, desalination subunits may include temperature and/or lightingcontrol systems as well as electrical systems for desalinating water. Insome aspects, desalination subunits (e.g., desalination subunitsoperating independently) use an amount of energy (e.g., electricalenergy) for each volume of water desalinated. Where desired,desalination subunits may be operably connected to at least one powerproducing subunit, e.g., as described herein). Some embodiments ofdesalination subunits include a power source (e.g., a source from whichelectrical power may be obtained). Power sources, where appropriate, andas described above, generate or obtain power from renewable energysources. In some aspects, desalination subunits may be operablyconnected (e.g., electrically connected) to a data center or one or moreof the components thereof.

As summarized above, the disclosed systems include one or moredesalination subunits co-located with one or more data centers. As notedabove, some embodiments of the disclosed systems include desalinationsubunits that are configured to receive and desalinate warm water outputfrom a data center (e.g., a co-located data center). Some variations ofthe disclosed systems that include desalination subunits configured toreceive and desalinate warm water output from a data center are therebyconfigured to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared to the samedata center and water desalination subunit operating independently(e.g., a data center and water desalination plant not connected in amanner such that water or electricity may travel from one to the other).Also, in some instances, the disclosed systems include desalinationsubunits that are configured to receive and desalinate warm water outputfrom a data center and are thereby configured to use less energy (e.g.,electrical energy) as compared to the same data center and waterdesalination subunit operating independently (e.g., a data center andwater desalination subunit not connected in a manner such that water orelectricity may travel from one to the other).

As with the data center subunit, the water desalination subunit may bepresent in a housing suitable to maintain the operability of the waterdesalination subunit at the underwater location. As such, the housingmay be a housing configured to protect electrical components of thewater desalination subunit from contact with the water, e.g., by being awater tight housing and/or a housing in which any water ingress isreadily countered by water egress. The housing may be fabricated usingany convenient material(s) according to any convenient design, where theinterior of the housing may vary, ranging in some instances from 1 to10,000 m³, such as 5 to 5,000 m³.

Power Producing Subunit

In some aspects, the disclosed systems include one or more powerproducing subunits. As used herein, the phrase “power producing subunit”refers to a facility for the generation of electric power. In someaspects, power producing subunits house components for generating andtransmitting electric power.

The power producing subunit may be any convenient type of powerproducing facility, including but not limited to those that generateelectrical power from fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and/or naturalgas), nuclear power or renewable energy sources, e.g., solar, wind,wave, geothermal, or other types of renewable energy sources.

When present in systems of the invention, the power producing subunitmay be located at a location operably connected to at least one of thedata center and the water desalination subunits, where the location maybe, in some instances, at an underwater, e.g., seafloor or aboveseafloor, or water surface location, as desired. Power producingsubunits, in some aspects, are operably connected to a data centerand/or a water desalination plant. Various embodiments of powerproducing subunits provide electrical power to data centers (e.g. datacenters of the systems) and/or desalination subunits (e.g., desalinationsubunits of the systems). As such, some versions of the disclosedsystems include power producing subunits that are electrically connected(e.g., connected by at least one conductive material, such as a metalcable) to a data center and/or a water desalination subunit. In someaspects, power producing subunits may provide all or a portion of theelectrical power required to operate the data center and/or theelectrical components therein. Similarly, in some instances, the powerproducing subunit may provide all or a portion of the electrical powerrequired to operate a desalination subunit and/or the electricalcomponents therein.

Where the power producing unit is present at a water surface location,the water surface location at which the power producing subunit, whenpresent, may be located is one that provides for the operativecommunication between the power producing subunit and the data centerand/or water desalination subunit. The water surface location may bepositioned on the surface of the body of water directly above theunderwater location of the data center/water desalination subunits, orto one side of such a location. While the distance between the surfacelocation and the underwater location may vary, in some instances thedistance ranges from 15 to 5000 m, such as a 50 to 2500 m, including 50to 1000 m. The power producing subunit may be on a floating ornon-floating structure, e.g., a floating or non-floating platform, wherethe structure may be fixed or non-fixed to the floor of the body ofwater.

Where the power producing unit is present at a below water surfacelocation, the below water surface location at which the power producingsubunit, when present, may be located is one that provides for theoperative communication between the power producing subunit and the datacenter and/or water desalination subunit. The below water surfacelocation may be positioned on or above the sea floor substantially thesame location as the underwater location of the data center/waterdesalination subunits, or proximal to such a location. While thedistance between the two locations may vary, in some instances thedistance ranges from 15 to 5000 m, such as a 50 to 2500 m, including 50to 1000 m. The power producing subunit may be on a floating ornon-floating structure, e.g., a floating or non-floating platform, wherethe structure may be fixed or non-fixed to the floor of the body ofwater.

Some embodiments of the disclosed systems that include a power producingsubunit are configured to produce fewer carbon emissions as compared tothe same power producing subunit, data center and water desalinationsubunit operating independently (e.g., a power producing subunit, datacenter and water desalination subunit not connected in a manner suchthat water and/or electricity may travel from one to the other). Also,some variations of the disclosed systems that include a power producingsubunit co-located with a data center and/or a desalination subunit areconfigured to use less energy (e.g., electrical energy) as compared tothe same power producing subunit, data center and water desalinationsubunit operating independently (e.g., a power producing subunit, datacenter and water desalination subunit not connected in a manner suchthat water and/or electricity may travel from one to the other). Assuch, some versions of the disclosed systems that include a powerproducing subunit co-located with a data center and/or a desalinationsubunit are configured to be more energy-efficient than the same powerproducing subunit, data center and water desalination subunit operatingindependently

FIG. 1 provides a diagram of one embodiment of a disclosed system 100including a data center 101 and a water desalination subunit 102co-located at an underwater location. The data center 101 anddesalination subunit are co-located on a platform 103 which is tetheredto the floor of an ocean at a depth of 200 to 250 m by way of cables104. Also shown is product water conveyer 105 which conveys freshwaterfrom the desalination subunit 102 to a land location 106 for furtheruse. Also shown is data transmission line 107 which provides foroperative communication between the data center and a land location 108.Of course, this may be replaced by a suitable wireless communicationelement. In some instances, and as depicted by the diagram of FIG. 2, asubject system 200 may include many of the same components and aspectsillustrated in FIG. 1, including a data center 201, a water desalinationsubunit 202 co-located with the data center, and may also include apower producing subunit 203 (in the form of wind turbine) operablyconnected with the data center and the water desalination subunit byoperable connections 204, 205 (e.g., connections through which electricpower may be transmitted) between the power producing subunit, datacenter and/or desalination plant, and other components and aspectsdescribed herein. As shown, the power producing subunit 203 ispositioned at a surface location above the underwater location.

Methods

As summarized above, aspects of the present disclosure also includemethods for cooling a data center and desalinating salt water. In someembodiments, the methods have steps (e.g., sequential steps and/orsimultaneous steps) including (1) cooling a data center with a watercooling subsystem comprising a cool water intake and a warm waterdischarge, wherein the water cooling subsystem is configured to absorbheat produced by the data center; and (2) desalinating warm waterreceived from the warm water discharge at a desalination plant that isco-located with the data center.

The word “cooling” is used broadly and generically to refer to loweringthe temperature of an aspect (e.g., a data center or a portion of one ormore components therein) or a portion of an aspect (e.g., a portion of adata center that is heated by one or more components of the datacenter). As such, in some embodiments, cooling a data center with awater cooling subsystem having a cool water intake and a warm waterdischarge includes lowering the temperature of at least a portion of thedata center or one or more components of the data center using the watercooling subsystem.

As used herein, the phrase “cool water intake” refers to a water intakeconfigured to receive cool water. In some embodiments, cooling a datacenter with a water cooling subsystem includes moving (e.g.,intermittently or continually pumping) water (e.g., cool water) throughat least a portion of the water cooling subsystem and/or absorbing heatproduced by the data center using the water cooling subsystem and/orwater pumped through the subsystem. In some instances, cooling a datacenter with a water cooling subsystem includes moving (e.g., pumping)water (e.g., warm water) through at least a portion of the water coolingsubsystem after the water cooling subsystem and/or water therein hasabsorbed heat produced by the data center. In various embodiments,cooling a data center with a water cooling subsystem includes moving(e.g., pumping) water (e.g., warm water) out of the water coolingsubsystem (e.g., pumping water through a warm water discharge of a watercooling subsystem). In some variations, cooling a data center with awater cooling subsystem includes moving (e.g., pumping) water (e.g.,warm water) into a desalination plant.

The word “desalinating” is used broadly and generically to refer toconducting one or more processes (e.g., reverse osmosis) to desalinatewater. As such, in some embodiments, desalinating water includesreceiving water (e.g., warm water) from a warm water discharge of a datacenter into a desalination plant (e.g., a desalination plant co-locatedwith the data center) and conducting one or more desalination processesto desalinate that water. In particular aspects of the methods,desalinating water includes receiving water (e.g., warm water) from awarm water discharge of a data center into a desalination plant (e.g., adesalination plant co-located with the data center) and conducting oneor more desalination processes to desalinate the water. In someinstances, desalinating water includes moving (e.g., intermittently orcontinually pumping) water (e.g., warm water) through one or morecomponents of a desalination subunit and thereby desalinating the water.

In some versions of the disclosed methods, cooling a data center anddesalinating salt water includes obtaining (e.g., intermittently orconstantly pumping) water (e.g., seawater) from a cool water intake,e.g., located at the underwater location of the system. In some aspectsof the disclosed methods, cooling a data center and desalinating saltwater includes discharging (e.g., intermittently or constantly pumping)brine from a desalination plant into a body of water (e.g., an ocean orsea), e.g., at the underwater location of the system.

As noted above, in some embodiments, data centers, desalination plantsand/or their power sources produce carbon emissions. In some aspects,data centers and/or desalination plants (e.g., desalination plantsoperating independently) produce an amount of carbon emissions for eachfunction or portion of a function performed by the desalination plant orcomponents thereof. For example, in some variations, desalination plantsproduce a certain amount of carbon emissions per volume of desalinatedwater produced.

Also, as noted above, co-locating and/or operably connecting a datacenter and desalination plant can reduce their overall carbon emissions.As such, in some instances, the disclosed methods of cooling a datacenter and desalinating salt water at a desalination plant co-locatedwith the data center produce fewer carbon emissions as compared tooperating the same data center and water desalination plantindependently (e.g., a data center and water desalination plant notconnected in a manner such that water or electricity may travel from oneto the other). In some variations, the disclosed methods of cooling adata center and desalinating salt water at a desalination plantco-located with the data center include producing a smaller carbonfootprint as compared to the same data center and water desalinationplant operating independently.

In some instances, the disclosed methods of cooling a data center anddesalinating salt water at a desalination plant co-located with the datacenter use less energy per amount of data-center cooling and per volumeof water desalinated as compared to the same data center and waterdesalination subunit operating independently (e.g., a data center andwater desalination plant not connected in a manner such that water orelectricity may travel from one to the other). In some versions, thedisclosed methods of cooling a data center and desalinating salt waterat a desalination subunit co-located with the data center includecooling a data center and desalinating water in a more energy-efficientmanner as compared to operating the same data center and waterdesalination plant independently.

In particular embodiments, the disclosed methods of cooling a datacenter and desalinating salt water at a desalination subunit co-locatedwith the data center include maintaining the PUE (e.g., the PUE of thedata center) at a particular value, such as 2.0 or less, e.g., 1.9, orless, 1.8 or less, 1.7 or less, 1.6 or less, 1.5 or less, 1.4 or less,1.3 or less, 1.2 or less, 1.1 or less, where the particular value atwhich the data center is maintained may vary, e.g., a PUE of 1.0; 1.1;1.2; 1.3; 1.4; or 1.5. In some instances, the disclosed methods ofcooling a data center and desalinating salt water at a desalinationsubunit co-located with the data center include maintaining the PUE(e.g., the PUE of the data center) within a particular range (e.g.,below 2; between 0 and 2; or between 1 and 2). For example, in someaspects, the disclosed methods of cooling a data center and desalinatingsalt water at a desalination subunit co-located with the data centerinclude maintaining the PUE (e.g., the PUE of the data center) between 1and 1.3 or at a value greater than 1 but approaching 1 (e.g., 1.1; 1.15;1.2; 1.25; or 1.3).

In some versions, the disclosed methods of cooling a data center anddesalinating salt water at a desalination subunit co-located with thedata center include co-locating and/or operably connecting a datacenter, desalination subunit and power producing subunit. As such, insome embodiments, the disclosed methods include obtaining power tooperate the data center and the desalination plant from a powerproducing subunit co-located with the data center and the desalinationsubunit. Also, as noted above, co-locating and/or operably connecting adata center, desalination subunit and power plant can reduce theiroverall carbon emissions. As such, in various instances, the disclosedmethods of cooling a data center and desalinating salt water at adesalination subunit co-located with the data center that includesobtaining power to operate the data center and the desalination subunitfrom a power producing subunit co-located with the data center and thedesalination plant produces fewer carbon emissions as compared tooperating the same data center, water desalination subunit and powerproducing subunit operating independently. In some versions, thedisclosed methods of cooling a data center and desalinating salt waterco-located with the data center by obtaining power to operate the datacenter and the desalination subunit from a power producing subunitco-located with the data center and the desalination subunit includesproducing a smaller carbon footprint as compared to the independentoperation of the same subunits. In some instances, the disclosed methodsof use less energy per amount of data-center cooling or per volume ofwater desalinated than the same data center, water desalination subunitand power producing subunit operating independently (e.g., operatingwhile not operably connected). In some versions, the disclosed methodsinclude cooling a data center, desalinating water and/or producing orobtaining power in a more energy-efficient manner as compared tooperating the same subunits independently.

Utility

The subject systems and methods may be used to cool data centers anddesalinate water. As described herein, in some aspects, the disclosedsystems may be configured to operate in a way that is more effectivethan operating components of the systems independently, e.g., use lessenergy per amount of data-center cooling and/or per volume of waterdesalinated, minimize the impact, e.g., produce fewer carbon emissionsor less thermal pollution, etc., as compared to the subunits operatingindependently. Accordingly, the subject systems and methods may beapplied to minimize the amount of energy used by data centers,desalination plants and/or power plants. The subject systems and methodsmay also be applied to minimize the amount of carbon emissions from datacenters, desalination plants and/or power plants. By enhancingefficiency of operation and minimizing carbon emissions, the disclosedsystems and methods are useful to minimize costs associated with datacenters, desalination plants and/or power plants and to promote thequality of the surrounding environments.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity ofunderstanding, it is readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes andmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit orscope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that theterminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope ofthe present invention will be limited only by the appended claims.

Accordingly, the preceding merely illustrates the principles of theinvention. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will beable to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitlydescribed or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention andare included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples andconditional language recited herein are principally intended to aid thereader in understanding the principles of the invention and the conceptscontributed by the inventors to furthering the art, and are to beconstrued as being without limitation to such specifically recitedexamples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein recitingprinciples, aspects, and embodiments of the invention as well asspecific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural andfunctional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that suchequivalents include both currently known equivalents and equivalentsdeveloped in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform thesame function, regardless of structure. The scope of the presentinvention, therefore, is not intended to be limited to the exemplaryembodiments shown and described herein. Rather, the scope and spirit ofpresent invention is embodied by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of cooling a data center anddesalinating water, the method comprising: (a) cooling a data centerwith a water cooling subsystem comprising a cool water intake and a warmwater discharge; and (b) desalinating warm water received from the warmwater discharge at a water desalination subunit to produce desalinatedwater; wherein the data center and water desalination subunit areco-located with each other at an underwater location from which thewater cooling subsystem is configured to receive cool water.
 2. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the underwater location is anunderwater location of an ocean or sea.
 3. The method according to claim2, wherein the underwater location is positioned below the photic zoneof the ocean or sea.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein theunderwater location is positioned 15 m or more below the surface of theocean or sea.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the underwaterlocation is positioned 50 m or more below the surface of the ocean orsea.
 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising conveying aproduct water conveyor from the desalination subunit to a water surfacelocation.
 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingdischarging brine from the water desalination subunit.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 7, wherein the discharging is at the underwaterlocation.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the waterdesalination subunit is a membrane-comprising desalination subunit. 10.The method according to claim 9, wherein the membrane-comprisingdesalination unit is a reverse osmosis desalination subunit.
 11. Themethod according to claim 1, further comprising powering at least one ofthe data center and water desalination subunits with a power producingsubunit located at a water surface location and operably connected to atleast one of the data center and the water desalination subunits. 12.The method according to claim 11, wherein the power producing subunit isoperably connected to both of the data center and water desalinationsubunits.
 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the powerproducing subunit is a renewable energy power producing subunit.